Debit card vs US cash

Not 100% sure, but I don't think banks will exchange unless you have an account.

But, currency exchanges will do it.

At the same time, there are lots of posts about getting the best exchange rate, and
your bank debit/checking card is the best way to do that (assuming your debit card
is tied to a savings or checking account). Using your credit card to get cash is
viewed as a cash advance and you get charged interest.

Is there some reason you don't want to take your debit card? If you have a security
concern, the implication of your question is that you'd carry additional USD to possibly
exchange into EUR, which I see as more of a risk.

Finally, unless you're going to some remote village or area, you most likely won't need
much cash at all; credit cards are the primary method of payment nowadays.

Maybe read this:
https://www.ricksteves.com/travel-tips/money/cash-tips

I hope you are planning on taking more than just cash, especially if you are traveling solo.
I always have a couple of cards, credit and debit, in case of problems.

Setting aside your original question (which is a bit concerning, for reasons hinted at above)...are you not bringing credit cards? If you have credit cards with you (always have more than one), you will probably not be needing much cash (maybe any) while in Italy. Sure, it's a good idea to have some (a little) cash with you, but for 99% of things, credit cards are widely, easily, routinely accepted - and credit cards are the highest security/lowest risk way to go. Cash is the most dangerous.

If you are planning to bring a lot of cash with you, you may want to reconsider. Carrying a lot of cash - dollars, euros, whatevers - is asking for trouble.

I spent 3 weeks in Italy this fall and I don't think I used cash once for anything. Yes, there may be circumstances where cash comes in handy in a pinch, but in my experience, these days, not very often.

Bring a small amount of Euros with you
Use your debit card to withdraw more as needed -from a bank Bancomat during bank hours

Always choose transactions in Euros

I can’t imagine not having debit card and a couple credit cards while traveling
Or utilizing something like Apple Pay

All much much safer than cash

If you have credit cards, look into them in terms of foreign exchange or fees. That said, many have essentially no fees and use good exchange rates, but as someone already said, be sure to pay in Euros rather than dollars.

If your credit card gives you 1% or 2% “cash back,” you actually come out ahead by using your card, if you are someone who pays your card off in full every month.

In Italy, you can use a credit card just about anywhere. Yes, even for a gelato.

I never take a debit along on the trip . It's cash and 4 credit cards, 3 of which are equipped with the PIN , and never have run into problems or any concerns.

No problem using a debit card to get cash once, or even a few times during a trip, you really will not need much cash.

You will use a credit card, or your phone, most of the time, it does vary by country, some are almost cashless, Italy included, others, like Germany, still like cash.

I always like to have 50 to 100 euro of cash on me as backup, then replenish as necessary.

Fear of using a debit card or ATM is unfounded, sure if you prefer not to, but not good advice.

A couple things to consider:
You say "I' so you are traveling solo? I've done four solo trips so far. I take two or three credit cards and one debit card. The credit cards are from two different banks. The debit card is from a small travel account so I as not using my primary debit cards.

You don't have time to open a travel checking account, assuming you haven't already, and get a debit card from that account. I suggest you take your bank debit card and keep it buried in your money belt except for emergencies. You are wearing a money belt, right? Do you have more than one credit card in case yours is blocked, lost or stolen?

How much €s are you taking? You usually don't need much cash but I've had a few obnoxious taxi drivers who only wanted cash. Most businesses take credit cards. I usually take €100-200 depending where I'm going. I get local currencies from ATMs
I take $100 cash for use in US airports and Execucar tips from and to home. Other posts talk about currency exchanges. They're all over but charge high rates.
Buon Viaggio!

Never carry more cash than you can afford to lose without your vacation being impacted

So when you pull out your stash of cash, thanks to yourself if I lost this immediately after getting off the plane in my destination, could I continue my vacation, if not, you’re bringing too much cash

I met a couple one time in the Paris airport who were trying to fly home about 24 hours after landing because “ we don’t believe in credit cards or debit cards” and they only bought cash and somehow they lost the cash immediately and they were begging Delta to let them go home

Most banks simply do not want the inconvenience of dealing with foreign notes, so do not change foreign cash. There are change offices but usually they offer very bad rates. Picking up cash with a credit/debit card is the way to go. And if you pay with credit cards (in China, with Alipay or Wechat) you do not even need much cash anyway.

I am a solo female traveler and have been to Italy a number of times.

Do you have your wallet set up on your phone for either ApplePay or Googlepay? I used ApplePay almost exclusively for purchases the last time I was in Italy (2022) and for my travels in 2023, 2024 and 2025 (France, UK, Netherlands). I have even used ApplePay for 3E gelato in Venice and Rome and .70 Eurocents for the toilet in the Amsterdam train station.

I do have 2 debit cards with me, the one from my main checking account at a local credit union and one from my money market account. I do as Carol suggests and have them buried deep in my money belt or cross body when I am not headed to an ATM to get cash.

Is there anything we can say to make you more comfortable about taking your debit card out of the US? I think most of the people on the forum travel with debit cards. IF the advice you've received for not traveling with them is coming from folks who do not travel internationally, they may be misinformed.